Means for bringing capstan into engagement and disengagement for automatic playing apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tape cartridges

ABSTRACT

In an automatic playing apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tape cartridges a housing designed to bring a cartridge as indexed into the play position by movement thereof after effecting thereinto insertion of plurality of endless tape cartridges each having a pinch-roller therein, a swingable deck including a capstan, driving means therefor, and a magnetic head, said capstan feeding said endless tape stored in the cartridge in the play position in relation to said housing, said magnetic head playing the running endless tape, a deck driving means retracting said deck from the cartridge in the play position, time lag means automatically returning said deck in the original position after a certain time of period for driving endless tape stored in the cartridge as next indexed positioned in the play position, said deck driving means adapted to be actuated by searching an end mark on the tape during play, and said time lag means preventing said deck from returning automatically until after the cartridge as next indexed is positioned in the play position.

United States Patent lnventor ltsuki Ban 829, Higashi-Oizumimachi,Nerima-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan Appl. No. 713,655 Filed Mar. 18,1968 PatentedJune 15, 1971 Priority Mar. 18, 1967, Apr. 14, 1967 Japan 42/ 16625 and42/23425 MEANS FOR BRINGING CAPSTAN INTO ENGAGEMENT AND DISENGAGEMENTFOR AUTOMATIC PLAYING APPARATUS UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF ENDLESS TAPECARTRIDGES Primary Examiner-J. Russell Goudeau Attorney- Nathan M.Briskin ABSTRACT: In an automatic playing apparatus utilizing aplurality of endless tape cartridges a housing designed to bring acartridge as indexed into the play "position by movement thereof aftereffecting thereinto insertion of plurality of endless tape cartridgeseach having a pinch-roller therein, a swingable deck including acapstan, driving means therefor, and a magnetic head, said capstanfeeding said endless tape stored in the cartridge in the play positionin relation to said housing, said magnetic head playing the runningendless tape, a deck driving means retracting said deck from thecartridge in the play position, time lag means automatically returningsaid deck in the original position after a certain time of period fordriving endless tape stored in the cartridge as next indexed positionedin the play position, said deck driving means adapted to be actuated bysearching an end mark on the tape during play, and said time lag meanspreventing said deck from returning automatically until after thecartridge as next indexed is positioned in the play position.

PATENTEUJUMSIQH 3584879 SHEET ear 3 ATTORNEY INVENTOR ATTO RNEYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to means forautomatically bringing a capstan into engagement and disengagement foran automatic playing apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tapecartridges, more specifically to means for automatically approaching orspacing a capstan to and from a pinch roller for a magnetic reproducingapparatus wherein a multiplicity of endless tape cartridges rested in ahousing are indexed in accordance with a sequential program to therebyindex a magnetic track to be played automatically.

As well known, the cartridge is generally provided with an endlessmagnetic tape, a guide portion guiding said tape along the forward edgeof the cartridge, and a pinch roller feeding said tape in associationwith a capstan disposed on a cabinet.

According to a prior art construction of the playing apparatus, thecartridge of this class as described is inserted into a slot of theapparatus to cause the pinch roller to abut against the capstan and thetape to be fed and played by a play circuit provided within theapparatus. In these days such an automatic playing apparatus hasbeenprovided wherein a plurality of cartridges provided therewithin isto be successively indexed as program. One recently developed automaticplaying apparatus of this type, as for example, comprises a plurality ofcartridges stacked therein, an elongated pinch roller in common with thecartridges, a plurality of magnetic heads in opposition to eachcartridge and for reproducing the tape, cartridge driving meansforwardingthe cartridge to be indexed to abut the capstan against thepinch roller to thereby feed the tape for its reproducing; an end markon the tape for actuating said driving means to reverse the cartridgefor terminating reproduction by the tape. According to the apparatus ofthis class, a multiplicity of magnetic heads and considerable elongatedcapstans are required to associate with at least a number of cartridgesto be received so that manufacture of the apparatus is expensive inproportion as the number of the cartridges is increased, On the otherhand, the length of the capstan and the number of the cartridges arelimited to a certain extent. I

In order to overcome the disadvantage as set forth in the above, suchapparatus has been proposed as that by movement of the cartridgecontaining a plurality of cartridges, the indexed cartridge is caused tobe moved to the position where the tape is opposite to the capstan andthe magnetic head, that is, the play position and thereafter thecartridge as positioned in that position is forwarded by the cartridgedriving mechanism to effect its reproduction.

According to such the proposed apparatus, the length ofthe capstan isshortened to convenient one for use and a mu]- tiplicity of magneticheads is reduced to a single head so that advantages are derived fromthe use of this kind of the apparatus.

In principle, the tape feed is effected by the bias abutment upon thetape between the pinch roller and the capstan, variation in such theabutment force brings about variation in speed of the tape feed to causewow-flutter so that good tone quality is not possible duringreproduction.

Therefore, in order to secure stable abutment of the pinch roller andcapstan on the tape, the cartridge should be held in position whenreproducing, that is to say, lateral, transversal vibration must beeliminated. For this reason, an improved and novel playing apparatusconstruction is provided so that the pinch roller is brought into andout of engagement with the capstan in response to the reciprocalmovement of the cartridge to minimize waste of energy for vibration asmentioned whereby good tone quality may be obtained.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an automatic playingapparatus which, when used in conjunction with means for bring a capstaninto engagement and disengagement with a pinch roller, does not waste ofelectric power and also does not require a complicated mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the invention toprovide means for bringing a capstan into engagement and disengagementfor an automatic playing apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tapecartridges with the use of a simple mechanism while requiring a minimumofenergy for operation.

An object of the invention is, second, to provide means for bringing apinch roller into engagement and disengagement with a capstan for anautomatic playing apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tapecartridges with the swingable movement of a deck in which the capstan,rotatable drive mechanism, and a magnetic head are included.

An object of the present invention is, third, to provide means forbringing a capstan into engagement and disengagement for an automaticplaying apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tape cartridgeswherein a deck is moved away from the cartridge by a drive member whichis actuated in response to the searching of an end mark on the tape andtime lag means is provided to return the deck to its original positionafter positioning the next indexed cartridge in the play position.

An object of the present invention is, fourth, to provide means forbringing a capstan into engagement and disengagement for an automaticplaying apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tape cartridgeswherein a deck is swingably moved by rotation of a drive member for acapstan and the deck is automatically returned to its normal position bymeans of a mechanical time delay element whereby the apparatus isoperated with a minimumof electric current.

An object of the present invention is, fifth, to provide means forbringing a capstan into engagement and disengagement for an automaticplaying apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tape cartridgeswherein a deck which has been swung by an electromagnetic plunger, isretained by a magnetic attractive force and the deck is returned to itsoriginal position by reducing the attractive force with the use of anelectric time delay element.

The present invention has particular usefulness in conjunction with atape having a multiplicity of sound tracks, that is to say, a switchovermember for each track is operated by lever means which is actuated bythe swingable movement ofa deck to change over a track.

Still another object of the invention to provide means for bringing acapstan into engagement and disengagement for an automatic playingapparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tape cartridges wherein acasing containing the plurality of cartridges is released when a deck isaway from the cartridge to allow the next indexed cartridge to be movedand positioned in the play position.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, embodiments thereofwill now be described by way of example, by reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the formof an automatic playing apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tapecartridges for used with the present invention;

FIG. 2 isa reduced fragmentary side view showing a portion of embodimentshown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view showing a mechanism for indexing acartridge and a track;

FIG. 3b is a side view of the mechanism for indexing the cartridge andthe track shown in FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for changing over a track;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the deck shown in FIG. 1 used inconnection with the capstan;

FIG. 6 is a plan of view showing deck driving means for use with thedeck shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an electromagnetic mechanism circuit foruse with deck driving means shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view ofa modified deck driving means;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram for energizing an electromagnet for use withthe modification illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a permanent magnet and an electromagnetfor use with the modification in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a form of means for magneticallyattracting the deck;

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a portion of modified form of anautomatic playing apparatus utilizing a plurality of endless tapecartridges for used with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the deck for use with the modificationshown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an electrical diagram schematically showing theelectromagnetic plunger and the circuit for actuating the same.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings,particularly to FIG. 1, a cartridge mounting plate 20, as a housing forthe cartridge, is of planar and rotatively mounted to a pivot disposedon a cabinet (not shown) through a central bearing 22. Pairs ofretaining members 23,, 24,; 23,, 24 23 24 and 23,, 24 are urged againstdepressions 26, 27 on the sidewalls of each four cartridges 25,, 25,, 25and 25, having an endless tape 29 on a rotary disc 29, a tape guide 30,and a pinch roller 31 in order to hold the cartridges in position. Sinceeach cartridge is identical, it is deemed sufficient to describe onlytwo 25,, 25 of them. One pair of cartridges are arranged on the plate 20at a right angle to the other pair of cartridges. The forward edgeportion of each cartridge is positioned above the edges of the plate 20.The cartridge is drawn against the urged force of the retaining membersto free it from the mounting plate 20 so that there may be aninterchangeability with each other.

A column 32 is provided downwardly of the plate 20 to interpose a spiralcoil spring 33 between the column and the bearing 22. The cartridgemounting plate 20 is manually rotated in the direction of arrow B, andenergy is stored in the spring 33 to impart rotation in the direction ofarrow A to the plate 20. A projection 34 is integrally formed at theedge of the plate 20 and a lever 35 is pivoted by a shaft 36. Suchrotation of the plate 20 is thus arrested by engagement of theprojection 34 with the lever 35. The above-mentioned arrest forceapplied to this rotation is derived from a spring 37 extending betweenthe cabinet and the lever 35. A stopper pin 38 is provided to preventthe lever 35 from being rotated. When the lever 35 is manually rotatedagainst the urged force of the spring 37, it is disengaged from theprojection and rotation of the plate 20 is initiated by energy stored inthe spring 33. Adjacent to one side of each cartridge rigidly secured tothe plate are pairs of hollow shafts 39,, 39 39 39,, 40,, 40 40 and 40,within which pairs of associated push rods 41,, 41 41,, 41,, 42,, 42 42and 42 are provided, the latter being slidably and frictionally carriedwithin by each hollow shaft. Normally, the upper end of the push rod isprojected from the hollow shaft while the lower end thereof isrestrained within the hollow shaft. When the push rod is manuallydepressed, the lower end thereof is caused to be projected from thehollow shaft. As rotation of the mounting plate 20,

these push rods are accordingly rotated to cause the pair of rods to beengaged with a raised portion secured to the cabinet. This causes therotation of the plate to be terminated. FIG. 2 shows the state whereinthe cartridge has been positioned in the play position after the pushrod had been depressed to be engaged with the raised portion to therebyterminate rotation of the plate 20. Numeral 44 indicates a deckcomprising a pinch roller 31 withinthe cartridge to be positioned in theplay position, a capstan 45 engaging the tape 29, and a magnetic head 46and which is swingably journaled by a shaft 47 to the cabinet. At thelower end of the capstan there is provided a flywheel 51 which iscarried by a bearing 52 and is rotated by a belt imparting rotation of amotor 48 through a motor shaft 49. A spring 53 extends between the deckand the cabinet to urge the deck 44 toward the cartridge to allow thecapstan 45 to be urged against the pinch roller 31 and to cause themagnetic head 46 to be engaged by the tape 29 when the tape isreproduced. Numeral 54 indicates an end mark search head which searchesan end mark- (not shown) of a conductive material such as aluminum foilon the tape 29 and can be urged against the tape 29 in the same mannerof the magnetic head 46 when the tape is reproduced.

In FIG. 2, like parts are represented by like numerals. On the face 43'of the raised position 43 engaging the depressed push rods 41, 42, alever plate 55 is slidably supported by two guide pins 57 having aflange 58 passing through a vertically elongated slot 56. Springs woundto the guide pins 57 are interposed to provide a space between theflange 58 and the lever plate 55. Abutment of the plate 55 with the face43' is secured by the urged force of such the springs. A spring 59 alsoextends between the lever plate 55 and the cabinet to normally urge thelever plate 55 downwardly. This will cause the lever plate 55 to bedownwardly positioned below the push rod 41,, 42 which is engaged by theraised portion 43. The line linked between the two push rods 41,, 42 isnot always parallel to the face 43 of the raised portion 43. That is,the push rod 41 is firstly depressed to engaged the raised portion 43 atwhich time, the other push rod 42 is free from engagement with theraised portion and a certain space more than the thickness of the leverplate 55 is formed between the push rod 42 and the raised portion 43.However, the other push rod 42 can, of course, be depressed to engagethe raised portion 43 when the push rod 41 is not depressed.

Numeral 60 is a link lever having the opposite ends one of which ispositioned adjacent to the lever plate 55 and the other is engaged witha deck limb 61. The link lever 60 is rotatably supported by a shaft 62.Details of the functional operation of the lever plate 55 and the linklever 55 will be described hereinafter. When the deck 44 is swingablymoved in the direction of arrow C after the tape is reproduced in amanner as described later, as the deck limb 61 depresses the other endof the link lever 60 is then clockwise rotated about the axis of theshaft 62 against the urged force of the spring 59. As a result, thelever plate 55 moves the push rod 41 upwardly to be released fromengagement with the raised portion 43. When the deck 44 is returned toits normal position in a manner as described later, the lower plate isalso returned by the springs 59, 63 to its normal position. The push rod42 is engaged by the raised portion 43 by upward movement of the pushrod 41 to maintain the cartridge mounting plate 20 in a position forarresting its rotation. Next, the engagement of the push rod 42 with theraised portion 43 is released by upward movement of the push rod 42 dueto the swingable rotation of the deck 44. If the push rod 41 42 isdepressed together, they are upwardly moved by the swingable rotation ofthe deck 44 twice to release their engagement from the raised portion 43and the plate 20 initiates its rotation.

It should be noted that the push rod 41 provided not only the functionaloperation to arrest rotation of the mounting plate 20 but also such afunction to index a magnetic head on the tape. The depressed push rod 41engaged with the raised portion 43 is caused to depress a microswitchactuating rod passing through the raised portion 43 and projecting fromthe face 43.

As shown in FIG. 4, the microswitch 64 is arranged between a tapereproducing amplifier 66 and two magnetic heads 46a, 46b which areprovided to be opposed to each magnetic head. When the actuating rod 65is depressed by the push rod 41 the output of the magnetic head 46b isapplied to the amplifier 66. It is the time when the actuating rod 65 isnot depressed that the output of the magnetic head 46a is appliedthereto. The modified form of the magnetic heads 46a, 46b illustrated inFIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 1 as a magnetic head 46 for which function ofboth magnetic heads provides. In order to prevent the lever plate 55from being engaged with the actuating rod 65 of the microswitch 64 whenaxial movement of the lever plate 55 is effected, a slit 55' may beprovided thereon.

To the lower end of the capstan 45 is mounted a cam 67, see FIG. 2,which forms a part of the swingable movement mechanism of the deck 44and will be fully described hereinafter.

The detail of the deck and related parts is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Theflywheel 51 is provided with such an arrangement at read side thereof asshown in FIG. 6. This arrangement is provided for the purpose that thedeck 44 is swung to disengage the capstan 45 from the pinch roller 31 toterminate the tape feed. Slidably mounted to the capstan 45 as the shaftfor the flywheel 51 is the cam 67 between which and the flywheel 51 aleaf spring 68 is interposed through a pin 69. On the other hand, anelectromagnet 71 with an actuator 73 is secured to the cabinet 7.0 ofthe apparatus.

When an end mark 74 on the tape 29, see FIG. 7, closes the end marksearch head 54 and the current from a power supply 75 is applied to theexcitation coil of the electromagnet 71, the magnetic circuit is closedthrough the yoke 72 of the electromagnet 71 to attract the actuator 73from the position shown by the dotted line to the position shown by thesolid line. At this point, the cam 67 rotates in the direction of arrowD, see FIG. 7, to allow the cam 67 to engage the end of the actuator 73and then such engagement reacts on the capstan 45 to urge it in thedirection of arrow F. As a result, counterclockwise rotation (FIG. 5) isimparted to the deck 44 allowing it to initiate rotation thereof. Thecapstan 45 is away from the pinch roller 31'. The leaf spring 68 rotatesthe cam 67 in association with rotation of the flywheel 51 whileavoiding a collision between the cam 67 and the actuator 73. With suchan arrangement as set forth in the above, current flow (pulse current)to be drained to the excitation coil of the electromagnet 71 may beminimized. In other words, the deck 44 gains a considerably swingablemovement due to the force of inertia of the flywheel 51 even thoughelectric power economized.

Referring again to FIG. 5, when the deck 44 is rotated in the directionof arrow E against urged force of the spring 53 upon searching the endmark on the tape, a ratchet wheel 76 and the detent 77 are engaged witheach other so that the deck is caused to terminate its rotation. Thedetent 77 is pivotally mounted to the portion of the deck 44 and aspring 78 extends between the apparatus and the detent to normallyeffect engagement of the detent with the tooth of the ratchet wheel 76.The ratchet wheel 76 subject to governor effect is associated with agovernor claw 82 through multiplying gear trains 79, 80 and 1 and isrotated by the urged force of the spring 53 after predeterminedinterval. This causes the deck 44 to be returned to its originalposition and the capstan 45 is urged against the pinch roller 31 so thatthe tape is fed and is reproduced.

If the time lag is set to be over the period (time for rotation of thecartridge at one revolution of at which the cartridge mounting plate, itis apparent that the cartridge is substantially indexed by pressing thepush rod whereby each tape is successively reproduced.

The other embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in FIGS.8, 9, and 10.

Suffice it to say that means are provided for engagement anddisengagement of the capstan with the pinch roller placed within thecartridge in the play position since means to bring a desired cartridgeout of a plurality thereof into the play position does not form asubstantial part of the present invention.

A deck 83, see FIG. 8, is pivoted by a shaft 84 passing through thelower portion thereof to the apparatus and which is urged by a spring 85in the counterclockwise direction. Numeral 86 indicates a capstan whichis rotatably supported at the opposite sides thereof by bearings 87, 88secured to the deck 83. The capstan 86 takes the form of the spindle fora flywheel 9. A belt 92 is stretched between the flywheel 89 and arotary shaft ofa motor 90 mounted to the deck 83. The capstan 86 isurged against the pinch roller (not shown) disposed on the cartridgeunder influence of the spring to drive the tape for its feed.

Now, end mark searching means (not shown) detect the end mark on thetape under reproduction, an electromagnetic plunger 93 is actuated bythe output of the end mark searching means to swing the deck 83 againstthe force of the spring 85. The instant end mark may take such a form asconductive foil used for embodiment as described, particular frequencysignal, a predetermined number of continuous pulse signal, recorded onthe tape, or nonsignal (nonrecorded) zone thereon. If recorded ornonrecorded signal is used as the end mark for end mark searching means,it includes the magnetic head and electronic switching means forcontrolling current to the electromagnetic plunger by means of theoutput of the magnetic head. The magnetic head included in end marksearching means may be provided independently of the magnetic head (notshown) for reproducing recorded information or may serve as the latter.In the latter case, a filter is provided for the output of the recordedinformation reproducing magnetic head to filtrate only the end marksignal so that electronic switching means is actuated by the output ofthe filter. If the end mark takes the form of nonsignal zone, no filteris needed and electronic switching means capable of switching for acertain period of no input is employed instead.

A permanent magnet 94 is'secured to the deck 83 and is caused to beattracted to a yoke 96 of an electromagnet mounted to the apparatus whenthe deck 83 is away from the cartridge by function of an electromagneticplunger 93. It should be noted that the permanent magnet 94 prevents thedeck 83 from returning to its original position when the plunger 93 hasfinished its function. An exciting coil 97, see FIG. 9, for theelectromagnet is connected through a switch 98 and a resistor 99 to asupply source 100. A condenser is also connected in parallel with thesupply source. A switch 98 is adapted to be manipulated by the deck 83which is away from the cartridge. When the deck 83 is clockwise rotatedin response to the end mark signal on the tape and the capstan 86 isaway from the pinch roller (not shown) in the cartridge, the switch 98is closed to allow the current from the supply source 100 to be drainedthrough the resistor 99 to the condenser 101 for increasing electricpotential thereof. The current applied to the exciting coil 97 isgradually increased in response to the time constant defined by thecondenser. Current value exceeding the predetermined value causes theflux generated by the exciting coil 97 to erase the flux of thepermanent magnet 94 so that attractive force between the permanentmagnet and the electromagnet 95 is eliminatedand the deck 83 is returnedby the urged force of the spring 85 to its normal position. At thispoint, the switch 98 is opened and the electric charge applied to thecondenser 101 is discharged through the exciting coil 97. On the otherhand, potential is maintained at zero point until the switch 98 is againclosed.

FIG. 10 shows the electromagnet 95 and the permanent magnet 94 insection for the purpose to illustrate the relationship between the two.

The exciting coil 97 is wound to the core of the cylindrical yoke 96.The permanent magnet is made of ferrite magnet. The magnet circuit endsthereof close to the yoke 96, its circuit is closed due to thepolarization to cause the permanent magnet 94 and the yoke 96 to beattracted to each other. As described in the foregoing, once theexciting coil 97 is energized, attractive force between the two iserased since the direction of the magnetic flux generated is such thatit enables the magnetic flux of the ferrite magnet to be erased. Thiscauses the deck 83 to be released from the engagement.

FIG. 11 shows alternative forms of the magnetic members, that is, amagnetic substance 102 made of mild steel plate and the electromagnet103. In this modification, the magnetic substance 102 is secured deckand the electromagnet 103 includes the yoke 106 which is provided withthe exciting coil 104 preliminary charged with DC current, and theexciting coil 105 to be charged with the current when the deck isreturned to its original position. When the magnetic substance 102closes to the yoke 106, the electromagnet 103 is attracted by thecharged exciting coil 104 to the yoke 106 and the deck is brought intoengagement. Disengagement of the deck is effected by the circuit asshown in FIG. 9 in a manner that the magnetic flux generated by thecharged exciting coil 105 functions to erase the magnetic flux generatedby the exciting coil 104 so that both generated fluxes are offset andattractive force between the electromagnet 103 and the magneticsubstance 102 decays.

Referring to FIG. 9, again, the time constant determined by the resistor99 and the condenser 101 is time lag returning the deck 83 to its normalposition. It should be noted that such the time is longer than any ofthe longest period for indexing one out of a plurality of cartridges tothe play position.

Another embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIGS.12,13,and14.

Numeral 110 indicates a cartridge mounting plate, see FIG. 12 with themajor portions abridged, which serves as the cartridge casing to receivea plurality of cartridges and having a mechanism for bringing thecartridge to be indexed into its play position. A pin 111 is mounted tothe plate 110 not only to control movement of the cartridge 113 which isinserted by cartridge guides 112 into the plate 110 but also to positionthe cartridge guides in a manner that the forward end of the cartridgeat least projects from the periphery of the plate 110. The cartridge 113as shown is such that it is out of a plurality of the cartridgesreceived within the plate and is positioned in its play position. Thecartridge 113 is provided with the tape 114, pinch roller 115, and thetape guide 116 therewithin. Provided on the forward end 117 of thecartridge is an opening (not shown) through which passes guide pins 119,120

mounted to the deck 118 as will be described hereinafter. The tape 114runs through the pinch roller 115 and the capstan 121 mounted to thedeck 118. When the tape comes to the forward end 117 of the cartridge,it is slidable in an end mark search head 122 and the magnetic head 123to allow the magnetic surface of the tape to be brought in contact withthese heads.

The deck 118, see FIG. 13, is integrally provided with supports 118,,118 at the opposite ends thereof. A rotatable shaft 124 passes throughthe supports 118,, 118 and is supported at the ends thereof by bearings125,, 125, secured to the apparatus.

A motor 126 as drive source for the capstan 121 and a flywheel 129connected through a belt 128 to the shaft 127 of the motor are disposedunder the other side of the deck 118. The shaft for the flywheel 129serves as the capstan 121. Supports 130, 131 is provided to carry theguide pins 119, 120.

FIG. 12 shows the stage in which the deck 118 is swingably urged bythebias of the spring 132 against the cartridge 113 and the capstan 121abuts on the pinch roller 115 to feed the tape 114. At this point, theguide pins 119, 120 project into the opening (not shown) through theforward end 117 to define the relative position in respect to thecartridge 113 and the deck 118. This also defines the relative positionin respect to the tape 114 and the magnetic head 122 so that a properreproduction is effected.

When the end mark 133, see FIG. 14, on the tape 114 closes the contactsof the end mark search head 54, an electric controller 134 functions toapply the current to the electromagnetic plunger 135. An actuator 136for the electromagnetic plunger 135 is connected through a spring 137 tothe deck 118 so that when the plunger 135 is energized and the actuator136 is attractively moves in the rightward direction, the deck 118 isswingable about the rotatable shaft 124 against the bias of the spring132. While the capstan 121 is away from the pinch roller 115 by the deckI18 which is swingable in the above manner, the magnetic head 123 isalso away from the tape 11.4 to thereby terminate the reproduction ofthe tape 114.

The electric controller 134 constitute a circuit as shown by the dottedline of FIG. 14 and comprises an electromagnetic relay 138 with itscontacts incorporating in series into the conductive circuit for theelectromagnetic plunger 134, a power supply 141 for actuating the relay138, a relay contact 140 constituting the self-preserve circuit for theelectromagnetic relay 138, a resistor 142, and a condenser-l43. When theend mark 133 on the tape 114 short circuits the contacts of the end marksearch head 122, the current from the power supply 144 is applied to theelectromagnetic relay 138 whereby two normally open type relay contacts139, 140 are closed and operated. As a result, the electromagnetic relayconstitutes a self-preserve circuit through the relay contact, thecondenser 143, and the resistor 142 and the electromagnetic plunger 135is connected through the relay contact 139 to the power supply 144. Byenergization of the electromagnetic plunger 135, the deck 118 is awayfrom the cartridge 113 and the capstan 121 is in turn away from thepinch roller and then simultaneously the end mark search head 122 isalso away from the end mark 133 whereby the conductive circuit for theelectromagnetic relay 138 by the end mark 133 is opened but theelectromagnetic relay is maintained in the stage of energization by theself-preserve circuit as previously mentioned. Therefore, theelectromagnetic plunger is also maintained in the stage of energizationto allow the deck 118 to be held in the position being away from thecartridge 113. Since the resistor 142 and the condenser 142 are inseries incorporated in the self-preserve circuit for the electromagneticrelay 138, the current applied to the electromagnetic relay 138 decaysin response to the charge on the condenser 143 and then the current issuch that it is less level thereof for the electromagnetic relay 138,the two relay contacts 139, 140 are opened. Opening of the relay contact140 causes the self-preserve circuit for the electromagnetic relay 138to be completely broken while opening of the other relay contact 139causes the conductive circuit for the electromagnetic plunger 135 to bebroken to deactuate the plunger so that the deck 118 is returned to itsoriginal position under influence of the spring 132. In other words, thedeck 118 which is moved away from the cartridge 113 in response to theend mark 133 on the tape 114 is again returned to its original positionafter the time lag which is determined by the resistor 142 and thecondenser 143. Such the time lag should be longer than that necessaryfor functioning to position the next indexed cartridge in the playposition.

In the case of the apparatus as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, as well as theapparatus as illustrated in FIGS. other than those, it may be necessaryto provide means for indexing not only the tape but also the cartridgeto respond to the swingable operation ofthe deck 118.

While only the preferred forms of the invention have been described, itshould be understood that various changes or modifications may be madewithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from thespirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. In an automatic tape playing apparatus having a plurality of endlesstape cartridges mounted on a casing, the casing being rotatable to bringthe cartridges into playing position in a predetermined sequence, meansfor bringing a capstan into engagement with and disengagement from atape cartridge in the play position comprising a pivotally movable deck,a capstan and a capstan driving means on said deck, the capstan beingadapted to forcedly abut on a pinch roller in one of the tape cartridgesheld in the play position in response to movement and location of thecasing supporting the plurality of endless tape cartridges; a magnetichead on said deck; bias means for normally urging said deck in thedirection of a cartridge in the play position; deck'driving means forpivotally moving said deck against the bias of said bias means andretracting said capstan and said magnetic head from the tape and saidpinch roller in the cartridge in the play position; end mark searchmeans for searching an end mark on the tape, means responsive to saidend mark search means for actuating said deck driving means when the endmark is sensed, said responsive means including an electromagnet adaptedto be energized when said end mark is sensed, and said deck drivingmeans including an actuatormovable by said energized electromagnet forcausing the deck to move against said bias means when said electromagnetis energized; and delay means operative to lock said deck after it hasbeen retracted from the cartridge in the play position by said deckdriving means, to retain said deck in the retracted position against thebias of said bias means for a delay period longer than the period forpositioning the next indexed cartridge in the play position, and torelease the deck at the end of said delay period, said bias means beingoperative when said deck is released from the delay means toautomatically swing the deck toward and into engagement with a cartridgein the play position.

2. in an automatic tape playing apparatus having a plurality of endlesstape cartridges mounted on a casing, the casing being rotatable to bringthe cartridges into playing position in a predetermined sequence, meansfor bringing a capstan-into engagement with and disengagement from atape cartridge in the play position comprising a pivotally movable deck,a capstan and a capstan driving means on said deck, the capstan beingadapted to forcedly abut on a pinch roller in one of the tape cartridgesheld in the play position in response to movement and location of thecasing supporting the plurality of endless tape cartridges; a magnetichead on said deck; bias means for normally urging said deck in thedirection of a cartridge in the play position; deck driving means forpivotally moving said deck against the bias of said bias means andretracting said capstan and said magnetic head from the tape and saidpinch roller in the cartridge in the play position; end mark searchmeans for searching an end mark on the tape, means responsive to saidend mark search means for actuating said deck driving means when the endmark is sensed, said responsive means including an electromagnet adaptedto be energized when said end mark is sensed, and said deck drivingmeans comprising an actuator movable by said energized electromagnet anda cam coupled to a flywheel for said capstan driving means, saidelectromagnet when energized by the output of said end mark search meansbeing adapted to magnetically attract said actuator into the range ofrotation of said cam, said deck being swingably moved by the reaction ofsaid cam when it impinges on said actuator, and delay means operative tolock said deck after it has been retracted from the cartridge in theplay position by said deck driving means, to retain said deck in theretracted position against the bias of said bias means for a delayperiod longer than the period for positioning the next indexed cartridgein the play position, and to release the deck at the end of the delayperiod, said bias means being operative when said deck is released fromthe delay means to automatically swing the deck toward and intoengagement with a cartridge in the play position.

3 Means in accordance with claim 1 wherein said delay means comprises aratchet claw mounted on said deck, a ratchet wheel mounted adjacent saiddeck, and a governor claw coupled through gear trains to said ratchetwheel, said deck being adapted to be swung by said deck driving meansand to interfere with the engagement of said ratchet claw and saidratchet wheel such that the deck cannot be restored to its originalposition even under influence of said bias means, and a mechanicalgovernor for gradually returning the deck to its original position.

4. In an automatic tape playing apparatus having a plurality of endlesstape cartridges mounted on a casing, the casing being rotatable to bringthe cartridges into playing position in a predetermined sequence, meansfor bringing a capstan into engagement with'and disengagement from atape cartridge in the play position comprising a pivotally movable deck,a capstan and a capstan driving means on said deck, the capstan beingadapted to forcedly abut on a pinch roller in one of the tape cartridgesheld in the play position in response to movement and location of thecasing supporting the plurality of endless tape cartridges; a magnetichead on said deck; bias means for normally urging said deck in thedirection of a cartridge in the play position; deck driving means forpivotally moving said deck against the bias of said bias means andretracting said capstan and said magnetic head from thetape and saidpinch roller in the cartridge in the play position; end mark searchmeans for searching an end mark on the tape, means responsive to saidend mark search means for actuating said deck driving means when the endmark is sensed, said responsive means including an electromagnet adaptedto be energized-when said end mark is sensed, and said deck drivingmeans including an actuator movable by said energized electromagnet forcausing the deck to move against said bias means when said electromagnetis energized; and magnetic delay means including means for magneticallylocking said deck after it has been retracted from the cartridge in theplay position by said deck driving means and for magnetically retainingsaid deck in the retracted position against the bias of said bias meansfor a period longer than the period for positioning the next indexedcartridge in the play position, and means for deactivating said magneticlocking means at the end of the delay period to release said deck, saidbias means being operative when said deck is released from the delaymeans to automatically swing the deck toward and into engagement with acartridge in the play position.

5. Means in accordance with claim 4, wherein said actuator is anelectromagnetic plunger for swinging said deck against the bias of saidbias means when said plunger is energized to move the deck away from thecartridge in the play position.

6. Means in accordance with claim 5 wherein said delay means comprises apermanent magnet secured to the deck, said permanent magnet having amagnetically attractive yoke, a second electromagnet secured adjacentthe deck, said permanent magnet and said second electromagnet being solocated that they are adjacent when the deck is fully retracted, anexciting coil disposed on said second electromagnet in a manner suchthat its current direction is able to erase the magnetic flux of saidpermanent magnet, a supply source for energizing said exciting coil forsaid second electromagnet, a resistor connected in series between saidsupply source and said exciting coil for said second electromagnet, acondenser coupled in parallel with said exciting coil, and a switchprovided between said supply source and said exciting coil andpositioned to be closed by said deck when the deck is retracted from acartridge in the play position, whereby said deck is retained in theretracted position by magnetic attraction between said permanent magnetand said second electromagnet, and said attraction between saidpermanent magnet and said second electromagnet is demagnetized by themagnetic flux generated in said second electromagnet after time lagdefined by said resistor and said condenser, whereby said deck isautomatically returned to its original position by the bias of said biasmeans.

7. Means in accordance with claim 5 wherein said delay means comprises amagnetizable plate secured to the deck, a second electromagnet beingsecured adjacent the deck and having a yoke including a first normallyenergized exciting coil and a second exciting coil, said secondelectromagnet attracting said plate thereto by the flux generated insaid first normally energized exciting coil and retaining said deck inthe retracted position where said deck is away from the cartridge, asupply source for applying current to the second exciting coil in adirection to demagnetize the flux generated in the first exciting coil,a switch provided between said supply source and said second excitingcoil and adapted to be closed by said deck for the period that said deckis retained by magnetic attraction between said plate and said yoke, anda time constant circuit provided between said supply source andsaidsecond exciting coil and having a condenser and a resistor"generating in said second exciting coil the flux to demagnetize the fluxgenerated in first exciting coil after a predetermined time lag whensaid switch is closed, whereby magnetic attraction between saidelectromagnet and said plate is demagnetized after time lag defined bysaid time constant circuit while said deck is automatically returned toits normal position by the bias of said bias means,

whereby the electromagnetic plunger is held in energizing condition forthe time lag which is defined by the resistor and condenser incorporatedin said self-preserve circuit for said electromagnetic relay so thatsaid deck is moved and held in the position being away from thecartridge and-is automatically returned to its normal position by thebias of said bias means after said time lag.

1. In an automatic tape playing apparatus having a plurality of endlesstape cartridges mounted on a casing, the casing being rotatable to bringthe cartridges into playing position in a predetermined sequence, meansfor bringing a capstan into engagement with and disengagement from atape cartridge in the play position comprising a pivotally movable deck,a capstan and a capstan driving means on said deck, the capstan beingadapted to forcedly abut on a pinch roller in one of the tape cartridgesheld in the play position in response to movement and location of thecasing supporting the plurality of endless tape cartridges; a magnetichead on said deck; bias means for normally urging said deck in thedirection of a cartridge in the play position; deck driving means forpivotally moving said deck against the bias of said bias means andretracting said capstan and said magnetic head from the tape and saidpinch roller in the cartridge in the play position; end mark searchmeans for searching an end mark on the tape, means responsive to saidend mark search means for actuating said deck driving means when the endmark is sensed, said responsive means including an electromagnet adaptedto be energized when said end mark is sensed, and said deck drivingmeans including an actuator movable by said energized electromagnet forcausing the deck to move against said bias means when said electromagnetis energized; and delay means operative to lock said deck after it hasbeen retracted from the cartridge in the play position by said deckdriving means, to retain said deck in the retracted position against thebias of said bias means for a delay period longer than the period forpositioning the next indexed cartridge in the play position, and torelease the deck at the end of said delay pEriod, said bias means beingoperative when said deck is released from the delay means toautomatically swing the deck toward and into engagement with a cartridgein the play position.
 2. In an automatic tape playing apparatus having aplurality of endless tape cartridges mounted on a casing, the casingbeing rotatable to bring the cartridges into playing position in apredetermined sequence, means for bringing a capstan into engagementwith and disengagement from a tape cartridge in the play positioncomprising a pivotally movable deck, a capstan and a capstan drivingmeans on said deck, the capstan being adapted to forcedly abut on apinch roller in one of the tape cartridges held in the play position inresponse to movement and location of the casing supporting the pluralityof endless tape cartridges; a magnetic head on said deck; bias means fornormally urging said deck in the direction of a cartridge in the playposition; deck driving means for pivotally moving said deck against thebias of said bias means and retracting said capstan and said magnetichead from the tape and said pinch roller in the cartridge in the playposition; end mark search means for searching an end mark on the tape,means responsive to said end mark search means for actuating said deckdriving means when the end mark is sensed, said responsive meansincluding an electromagnet adapted to be energized when said end mark issensed, and said deck driving means comprising an actuator movable bysaid energized electromagnet and a cam coupled to a flywheel for saidcapstan driving means, said electromagnet when energized by the outputof said end mark search means being adapted to magnetically attract saidactuator into the range of rotation of said cam, said deck beingswingably moved by the reaction of said cam when it impinges on saidactuator, and delay means operative to lock said deck after it has beenretracted from the cartridge in the play position by said deck drivingmeans, to retain said deck in the retracted position against the bias ofsaid bias means for a delay period longer than the period forpositioning the next indexed cartridge in the play position, and torelease the deck at the end of the delay period, said bias means beingoperative when said deck is released from the delay means toautomatically swing the deck toward and into engagement with a cartridgein the play position. 3 Means in accordance with claim 1 wherein saiddelay means comprises a ratchet claw mounted on said deck, a ratchetwheel mounted adjacent said deck, and a governor claw coupled throughgear trains to said ratchet wheel, said deck being adapted to be swungby said deck driving means and to interfere with the engagement of saidratchet claw and said ratchet wheel such that the deck cannot berestored to its original position even under influence of said biasmeans, and a mechanical governor for gradually returning the deck to itsoriginal position.
 4. In an automatic tape playing apparatus having aplurality of endless tape cartridges mounted on a casing, the casingbeing rotatable to bring the cartridges into playing position in apredetermined sequence, means for bringing a capstan into engagementwith and disengagement from a tape cartridge in the play positioncomprising a pivotally movable deck, a capstan and a capstan drivingmeans on said deck, the capstan being adapted to forcedly abut on apinch roller in one of the tape cartridges held in the play position inresponse to movement and location of the casing supporting the pluralityof endless tape cartridges; a magnetic head on said deck; bias means fornormally urging said deck in the direction of a cartridge in the playposition; deck driving means for pivotally moving said deck against thebias of said bias means and retracting said capstan and said magnetichead from the tape and said pinch roller in the cartridge in the playposition; end mark search means for searching an end mark on the tape,means responsive to said end mark search means For actuating said deckdriving means when the end mark is sensed, said responsive meansincluding an electromagnet adapted to be energized when said end mark issensed, and said deck driving means including an actuator movable bysaid energized electromagnet for causing the deck to move against saidbias means when said electromagnet is energized; and magnetic delaymeans including means for magnetically locking said deck after it hasbeen retracted from the cartridge in the play position by said deckdriving means and for magnetically retaining said deck in the retractedposition against the bias of said bias means for a period longer thanthe period for positioning the next indexed cartridge in the playposition, and means for deactivating said magnetic locking means at theend of the delay period to release said deck, said bias means beingoperative when said deck is released from the delay means toautomatically swing the deck toward and into engagement with a cartridgein the play position.
 5. Means in accordance with claim 4, wherein saidactuator is an electromagnetic plunger for swinging said deck againstthe bias of said bias means when said plunger is energized to move thedeck away from the cartridge in the play position.
 6. Means inaccordance with claim 5 wherein said delay means comprises a permanentmagnet secured to the deck, said permanent magnet having a magneticallyattractive yoke, a second electromagnet secured adjacent the deck, saidpermanent magnet and said second electromagnet being so located thatthey are adjacent when the deck is fully retracted, an exciting coildisposed on said second electromagnet in a manner such that its currentdirection is able to erase the magnetic flux of said permanent magnet, asupply source for energizing said exciting coil for said secondelectromagnet, a resistor connected in series between said supply sourceand said exciting coil for said second electromagnet, a condensercoupled in parallel with said exciting coil, and a switch providedbetween said supply source and said exciting coil and positioned to beclosed by said deck when the deck is retracted from a cartridge in theplay position, whereby said deck is retained in the retracted positionby magnetic attraction between said permanent magnet and said secondelectromagnet, and said attraction between said permanent magnet andsaid second electromagnet is demagnetized by the magnetic flux generatedin said second electromagnet after time lag defined by said resistor andsaid condenser, whereby said deck is automatically returned to itsoriginal position by the bias of said bias means.
 7. Means in accordancewith claim 5 wherein said delay means comprises a magnetizable platesecured to the deck, a second electromagnet being secured adjacent thedeck and having a yoke including a first normally energized excitingcoil and a second exciting coil, said second electromagnet attractingsaid plate thereto by the flux generated in said first normallyenergized exciting coil and retaining said deck in the retractedposition where said deck is away from the cartridge, a supply source forapplying current to the second exciting coil in a direction todemagnetize the flux generated in the first exciting coil, a switchprovided between said supply source and said second exciting coil andadapted to be closed by said deck for the period that said deck isretained by magnetic attraction between said plate and said yoke, and atime constant circuit provided between said supply source and saidsecond exciting coil and having a condenser and a resistor generating insaid second exciting coil the flux to demagnetize the flux generated infirst exciting coil after a predetermined time lag when said switch isclosed, whereby magnetic attraction between said electromagnet and saidplate is demagnetized after time lag defined by said time constantcircuit while said deck is automatically returned to its normal positionby the bias of said bias means.
 8. Means In accordance with claim 5,wherein the magnetic delay means includes an electromagnetic relayenergized and defined by the end mark search means when searching theend mark on the endless tape, and a self-preserve circuit for saidelectromagnetic relay constituted through a resistor, a condenser, and acontact which is closed when said electromagnetic relay is energized,the electromagnetic plunger being energized by the other contact of saidelectromagnetic relay, whereby the electromagnetic plunger is held inenergizing condition for the time lag which is defined by the resistorand condenser incorporated in said self-preserve circuit for saidelectromagnetic relay so that said deck is moved and held in theposition being away from the cartridge and is automatically returned toits normal position by the bias of said bias means after said time lag.